Williamson County Board of Education Meeting - June 16, 2025

001call the meeting to order. This is the June 16th, 2025 meeting of the Williamson County Board of Education. We will begin our meeting by recording attendance. U members, please record attendance on your devices. I think we got them. There are 10 members present. Thank you. Before we do the pledge and moment of silence, I want to recognize our deputies, Randall Purcell and Perry Dillah. Thank you, gentlemen, for being here tonight. All right. we'll have our pledge led by Jay Galbert. It's followed by a moment of silence. To the flag of the United States of America and to the for it stands one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Thank you. You may be seated. Next, we have our items of particular public interest. It's our public comment period. Tonight, we have

002two citizens who have signed up to speak. each of you will have three minutes. you will you can look at the monitor there at the podium to check your time. the two speakers are first Deborah Buffalolini followed by Amy Etches. Please approach the podium. Good evening everybody. hold on a second. So I'm here to talk about the policy 4.60. 601. And I know you guys have heard from me a lot through emails and I've been to every meeting since May. Having a super fun summer coming here to all the meetings. Learned a lot. so I wanted to address a couple of things about that policy. first, I know that it was originally started to make a retest policy districtwide. So the original purpose of the policy was to make it so that the entire district

003had the same retesting policy. now the wording has it has come down now to a paragraph and a different policy. However, it still says a lot of the same things it did in the original policy. We're just looking at it through a different lens. We're now saying that reassessment has many meanings, which it does in the teaching world. It could mean I might ask you a question. That's a form of assessment. Your answer to my question would be the assessment answer. and in recently speaking to some from central office and some of you the idea of reassessment has become any of those things can be called reassessment. Well, in reading the policy and rereading the policy, I believe it's called and I was trying to get it up on my phone and I couldn't do

004it quick enough. The policy is actually called student and parent guardian rights to access tests and quizzes. It doesn't say reassessments. It says test and quizzes. And this is in that particular line. The very very first line says establish the rights of students and parent guardians to assess and retain academic assessments. I find this really important because first I do believe in complete transparency with children and of course parents. I've never held back a test from any parent that's had an issue and I agree that all teachers should hand back tests to students. however, retain academic assessments. I believe we've all agreed that academic assessment means test. It doesn't mean I'm asking a question. I'm doing an informal assessment. But in the very next sense, in the very same sentence, if you go to the

005end, it says, "And also to promote opportunities for reteing and reassessment." Now, when I get to that part, that word reassessment is supposed to mean something different than it does in the first line. And that concerns me. Now, I've been told, and I believe you, I do, that when this comes down the pipe, that it will be told to principles that's not what it means. that this isn't for retakes and getting new grades, but that it is for the purpose of retaching and reassessing students in any form or any matter. However, if I can't understand it and in its form now, it could mean anything and I shouldn't have I think that it should be written in such a way that it means exactly what it says. And in order to do that, I think

006that we're going to have to go back and rewrite this policy perhaps in a different context altogether or to take it out of the transparency piece of it. Thank you. Amy Peterson, if you could pinpoint one policy change that would improve academic performance and student well-being, would you try it? I'm a county resident and a substitute teacher deeply concerned about the impact of smartphones on students well-being and learning. And I'd like to ask the board to take a bold but necessary step. Adopt a phone-f free school day from bell-to bell. This is about policy I think 6312. The research is clear and mounting. Smartphones are not just a distraction. Their overuse alters the developmental path of our children's brains. Here are three reasons to put them away all day. First, learning. Smartphones undermine focus, memory,

007and academic performance. A Journal of Educational Psychology study found that students who had phones in the classroom, whether they use them or not, scored significantly lower on tests than students in phone-f free environments. And according to a 2024 NEA study survey, 90% of NEA members support school policy prohibiting cell phone personal devices during instructional time with 83% supporting prohibiting their use all day with certain exceptions. The second reason is real social development. Middle and high school are critical years for building face-to-face communication skills, empathy, and emotional regulation. But when students are glued to screens during lunch and between classes, as we see every day, organic connections just do not happen. A phone-f free policy brings back hallway conversations, eye contact, and real friendships. And those are protective factors for mental health and lifelong success. The

008third reason is mental health. I'm going to have to start talking faster. Rates of anxiety, depression, and loneliness have skyrocketed in teens since 2010, the same time that smartphones and social media became ubiquitous. The CDC says nearly one in three teen girls seriously considered suicide in 2021, the highest rate ever recorded. A recent study in JAMAMA pediatrics shows a direct correlation between screen time and increased mental health struggles in adolescence. So, we can't ignore this. Going phone free during school hours is an immediate effective way to reduce the digital pressure and allow students to reset. I don't suggest throwing kids into this change blindly. That's why I recommend the board look into resources such as science-based things that kids brains and screens curriculum etc. And I have to wrap it up. So according to a

009May 2025 article in Education Week, schools that have implemented all day phone free policies have found that it's worth it. I've got more research on that. Adopting an all day phone free policy is all about freedom. Freedom for students to focus, to feel better, and to grow up in an environment where face-to-face relationships, learning, and mental health flourish. Thank you. Thank you. All right. Our next item is approval of our agenda for tonight. we will do this by voice vote. Can I get a motion in a second? We have a motion and a second. Thank you. all those in favor say I. Any opposed? Agenda is approved. We will now go on to approval of the consent agenda. I will also entertain a motion and a second. And we'll also do this by voice vote.

010Thank you. We have a motion and a second. all those in favor of approval of the consent agenda, say I. Any opposed? The consent agenda is approved. With that vote, we approve the May 19th, 2025 school board meeting minutes, approval of the e- plan applications for FY2026 to include ESA grant special education IDA part B, special education IDEA preschool, and CTE Carl Perkins. Approval of the Sunset Elementary shade structure. Approval of Sunset Middle exterior LED sign, approval of Long View Elementary early childhood playground, approval of the Middle Tennessee easement request at Sunset Elementary and Middle Schools, and the recommendation for field trip B requests. We will now move to communications to the board, superintendent report, Mr. Golden. Thank you, Mr. Chair, and I want to thank those of you who are here for coming. we

011have one principal in the audience. Michelle Murray, thank you for being here. Fairview Elementary's principal. I think that's all. we are we are in June. as you all know as board members, there's still a lot going on in our schools. We're going through our summer school process. We have about 1650 students in our summer school programs from age kindergarten through 8th grade. Of course, also we're serving many of our students with disabilities this summer through our extended school year program. And there's always something going on on our high school campuses as well. So, we're very excited about where we are with the summer. Related to that, I did not give you any detailed superintendent report at the work session. Instead, we gave you some information about the budget. and I know that our chair will

012share a little bit about where we are with the budget, at least from a scheduling perspective when he speaks at the board chair's report. With that, with it being June, school year is officially out, even though a lot's still going on. And Corey Mason is here for Carol Birdong, and he is going to share with us some student and staff spotlights. That's right. Good evening, everyone. It's my pleasure to present the student spotlight award winners for the month of June. And I'm really excited about these first three because we mentioned them at last month's board meeting, but it had just happened so we didn't have a chance to celebrate them. But tonight we are. So we are going to begin with the Paige High girls lacrosse team. They won the first ever TWSAA girls class

013A lacrosse state championship and their coach is Dana Fisano. Not to be outdone, the Brentwood High girls lacrosse team won the class 2A lacrosse state championship. Their coach is Heather Dobbins. And over on the boys side, the Nolanville High School boys lacrosse team won the class 2A lacrosse state championship. They are coached by Tom Pettit. Around the same time, taking place was our Spring Fling State Championships and Williamson County Schools had multiple winners there. We are going to begin with Brentwood High School's David Ashburn and Kevin Spivey. They worked together to win the TWSAA Unified Boys Shotput State Championship. Their coach Steven Brock. Also from Brentwood High School, the girls tennis team won the Class 2A tennis team title and they are coached by Kristen Young. And the duo of Drew Miller and Steven Smith

014won the boys class 2A doubles state championship. Kristen Young is their coach as well. Over at Centennial High School, Larkin Johnson won the girls class 3A 3200 meter run. Her coach is Liz Mlan and BJ Taylor. And on the boy side, Gavin Johnson from Centennial won the class 3A 400 meter run. Liz Mlan and BJ Taylor are his coaches. Over at Nolanville High School, the illustrious career of Claire Stagall came to an end in spectacular fashion. She came away with two more state championships to add to her collection. She won the 1600 meter run and the 800 meter run. Her coach there is Kyle Manderfield. The Knights are going to miss her as she moves on. And then at Paige High School, Sophia Bros, Gabby Bros, Natalie Smith, and Nella Smith. They won the girls

015class 3A 4 by 800 meter relay. and their coach there at Paige is Marcos Harris. From the middle school side of the world, we have the Paige middle school baseball team. They won the TMSAA boys class 2A baseball state championship. And those guys are coached by Mike McKibben at Sunset Middle School. You see here, Scotland Zbo. She won the TMSAA girls class 2A600 meter run. and her coach there at sunset is Alicia Arnold. And Woodland Middle School, we have DJ Corals, Oliver Brown, Christian Eaves, and Hayden Prim. Together, they won the boys class 2A 4x400 meter relay, and they are coached by Andrew Swanson. And last but not least, we have two awards. Two students, actually, both from Ravenwood High School, came away with perfect ACT scores on that April exam. So, tonight we're going

016to celebrate Joseph Larson, you see him here, and Samantha Tatalovich, both with that perfect 36. And that completes our student spotlight award winners for the month of June. Thank Thank you, Corey, very much. Thank you filling in for Carol Birdong. One interesting fact that we just heard about about a week ago from TWSSAA is they're actually moving track next year to Knoxville for the state championships. You all may recall we had some discussion at least by email about the track championships coinciding sometimes with our graduation ceremonies. So, we'll be looking at that schedule. If I'm not mistaken, tennis is moving to Chattanooga as well as they went through some contract structures with some bids from the state. so we'll be doing some review of that in in comparing our schedules to the to the new

017spring fling schedules that are scheduled for 2026 with that change. with that Mr. Chair, that is my June report. All right. Thank you. If if I may, Mr. Chair, I take that back. I actually had a question from a board member. I apologize. I wanted to give a little bit information. I was asked by a board member just a few days ago for an update about where our librarians are with implementing the new policy related to the mature content. And our librarians did meet with our as in grade level teams before they left for the summer finishing up their time. And from a structural standpoint, they're working on software with their checkout system where those books that they put on the list will come up as a notice anytime the books are scanned. they are

018also meeting as teams to talk about the content and make sure they're consistent across the across the district based on those grade bands. So they were able to get those processes in place before they before they left on their 10-month contract for the summer. when they come back. we know that our library coordinator is working on the software piece of that to make sure that's in place for this coming fall. Sorry, I meant to mention that. Oh, no problem. Any questions or other comments for Mr. Golden? Okay. for the board chair's report. I wanted to follow up on the emails that we've been sending back and forth regarding the special called meeting for the budget. We talked about this on u Thursday at the work session that the county commission will be meeting on Friday

019to hopefully adopt the county budget including our budget. And it was previewed to us by Miss Farmer and Mr. Golden that we there would be likely a change in that budget that would require us to come back and amend our budget for less for fewer expenses related in particular to insurance. Have I got that right? That's correct. So, as you might imagine, it's been a little difficult to find a time and a date that works to get a quorum, but it appears that Friday, this Friday, June 20th, at we think 5:00 p.m. might be a little later, but let's say 5:00 p.m. for the moment, is going to be the time when we can get, a quorum. We have to by law have seven people physically at the meeting. the only other date between now

020and June 30th that actually worked for a quorum is June 30th. my preference would be not to wait until the last day of the fiscal year in case something happened and one or more of those people couldn't make it and then we would be without a quorum and have to go into the fiscal year without a budget adopted. So, my recommendation is going to be that we set that meeting for this Friday, June 20th at 5:00 p.m. Again, the time could be adjusted slightly. I need to I did not ask where that would be. Can that be in this room? Yes, sir. Yes. Our plan is to have it here. The county commission's meeting starts at 900 a.m. and we don't know how long that will go. I do have the county attorney sitting to

021my right and he projected that that meeting could potentially go past lunch and into the mid-afternoon, but very likely, not holding you to this, Mr. Mosley, but very likely that it would be over in time for us to meet at 5:00. So, the budget will be hot off the presses and we can meet and vote. and for those who can call in remotely or participate remotely under those under the provisions of that those guidelines that allow for that then we will make arrangements for that. Any questions about that? And I do I do anticipate that's a one I mean it's it's literally one vote. So the meeting shouldn't take more than 10 minutes. If I may, Mr. Chair, there'll actually be vote for the general purpose budget. We'll have to do the cafeteria budget and

022our extended childcare budget as well, but substantively the we project that the content will be the same. So I stand corrected. So three actual votes, three different votes, but all about for the same purpose. Yes, sir. Okay. So 10 15 minutes tops I would think. Mr. Calorth. Yeah. Thank you, Mr. Chair. just a procedural question around the notice. So, do we we won't have a I mean, we will we will have a an estimate, right? But if we if we change that, can I mean the actual language might change before we get to our vote vote? I'll speak to a little bit. Mr. Mosley may have something to add. timingwise, we need to get our agenda out no less than two days before the meeting, 48 hours. So, that means our deadline to get the

023notice out is Wednesday. and from a special called meeting perspective, we can only vote on the content. So, we're going to make sure that language addresses whatever may happen from the county commission because we ultimately don't know their votes. We know what the budget committee has recommended. but we don't know ultimately what the county commission will do. From a timing perspective, if we schedule it for 5:00 pm, we can't make it any earlier. Mr. Mosley, anything? Yeah, once you've given notice, you have to give adequate notice for someone who is interested in the subject matter. So, if you say five o'clock, you can adjourn past. You could go to six or seven once you've announced it at five. You can't go earlier. You might have somebody show up later who was wishing to be present

024and speak or at least take notice of your action. But we can but we can just leave it as a general we're going to vote on a on an unnamed budget amendment and leave it at that and we can correct and then then then we just need a motion on the floor. That would give sufficient notice to the public of what the subject matter was. That's all that's required. Sounds good. I know we just usually give more I mean we usually have specifics in our public notice. So it's just a change in practice but a practical one and it's so as long as it's compliant. Yes, that's correct. And us announcing it tonight was also intentional to make sure that we gave folks as much notice as we possibly could. In addition to that quick

025notice you all got at the Thursday work session where where the budget committee meeting had just happened and it actually was still going on at the time our meeting was convened. So apologies to those who the few who won't be able to be there on Friday. it just was very difficult to try to find a time that worked. So, thank you for your patience with that. that is all I have. Any questions about that meeting? Okay, we can move on to new business. The first item is evaluation of the superintendent. I'll just say a couple things about this. I know at the work session Miss Osbrooks went through the summary of the scoring that was done by all of us the evaluation that document is in your board packet I think everyone's had a chance

026to review that I believe I don't remember the exact number but I want to say the aggregate score evaluation score came out around 3.3 3.4 for combining the two sections. So, we tonight have to vote on that evaluation to approve it and adopt it. I will say and I'll let Mr. Golden give a little more color on this. He mentioned Thursday night about his contract customarily, at least in the past several years, this vote on the evaluation has been accompanied by a contract extension. for for reasons that he stated and he can state again tonight. he's not seeking that extension. So we just would have the one vote tonight on the evaluation itself. Mr. Golden, do you want to elaborate? Sure. Thank you, Mr. Chair. My contract currently extends to 2028 late June 2028. Tennessee

027law only allows a superintendent's contract to be a maximum four years. And traditionally we've extended at the end of at the end of each year from three years to four because we have six new board members and we've been working together for nine months. I felt like it was premature to ask to to extend the contract beyond what's already 2028 to 2029 to give us some more time to work together. I do anticipate as I sit here on June 16th that I will be asking you for a contract extension. I just felt like this wasn't the appropriate time. Let's spend some more time working together. Mr. chair. On the substantive front related to my evaluation, we did speak about it some at the work session and I wanted to reiterate some of what I mentioned.

028The comments that you give me I take to heart and I study those comments. The numbers are one thing, but I recognize that each individual may give a number system or number to to to to a particular element of the of the of the evaluation based on based on their their own thoughts and their own take. And so this again the substance of the comments are what I focus on. and I did want to mention that we've had a discussion with our principles about some internal focus points for this year. I have made it a point every year for our team to work together to intentionally focus on focus our team from the from the principles to the to the core of our teachers to every single staff member in the district on those key

029points and I mentioned I think that the very first year one of our focus points was don't go it alone that we have a lot of really good people in the district who can support folks and this coming year the discussion that we had that were in the process of refining the our focus points for our administrative team and our teachers is number one in instruction to grow students with unique learning needs. And I know some of you made comments related to that in in in the evaluation. Second, safety building student relationships as the foundation of safety and third proactive engagement with parents staff and stakeholders in our student centered decisions. So, just felt like it was a little bit it was worth that preview for you as we'll be working through the latter part

030of the summer refining that and really rolling that out in earnest to our faculty and staff this coming year. All right. Thank you for that. All of us obviously submitted our own evaluations in writing and those are public record, but does anyone have any additional comments you wanted to make tonight on the evaluation process? All right, I don't see any. So, we will proceed to a vote. Can I get a motion in a second to adopt the evaluation? Thank you. All right. We will proceed to vote on our devices. at this time, the vote is 10 yes, zero no. Thank you. The evaluation is adopted. All right. All right, we'll now go on to 202425 schoolboard budget. several items here. the first of which is approval of the general purpose school fund 06.25 summer learning

031camps grant in the amount of $4,400,725. Mr. Golden. Thank you, Mr. Chair. This is an acceptance of the grant from the state to run our summer school program that's called the summer learning camp at the state level. Do recommend approval for us to receive this grant. The funds can ex only be used for that summer program. All right, we have a motion in a second. Any discussion? Okay, we're ready to vote. The vote is 10 yes, zero no. All right, you approve. Item two, approval of the general purpose school fund 06.25 25 summer learning transportation grant in the amount of $798,171. Mr. Golden. Thank you, Mr. Chair. The one you just approved was for the instructional cost related to the summer learning camps. This is for transportation. Do recommend approval of this. I will tell

032you that this is the state funding that we actually project. We're not going to spend all of it. We had that comment at the work session. We do have a responsibility to return to the to the state what we don't spend. All right. All right, we have a motion and a second. Any discussion? All right, we're ready to vote. The vote is 10 yes, zero no. The grant is approved. Item number three, approval of the general p general purpose school fund 06.25 fine arts donation from Gibson in the amount of $49,410. Mr. Golden. Thank you, Mr. Chair Gibson Gives is the charitable arm of Gibson guitars. They have been quite wonderful to us especially in the most recent years. they they do auctions of guitars and they commit the proceeds of those auctions to our

033music programs. A couple of years ago I happened to be at Franklin High School when band camp was going on and students opened up new instruments from Gibson Gives. just happened to happened to be there and it was it was amazing seeing how excited me players were to open up a brand new me for for what that's worth. and many of you have been to the to our band marching band programs as well. So thanks to Gibson Gives and for that long long-standing and ongoing commitment to our students in our music programs. Do recommend approval. Thank you. We have a motion and a second. Any discussion? No one's going to ask what a mephone is. I chose an obscure instrument for that very purpose. I'm not I'm not asking. A me a melophone looks like

034a trumpet with a really huge bell in the front. You may have seen those marching. Take your word. Best I can describe maybe a marching French horn. It's Yeah. French horn players march with. Yeah. Okay. Take your word for it. All right. We are provided there's no more discussion, we're ready to vote. The vote is 10 yes, zero no. All right, that donation is approved. item number four, approval of the general purpose school fund 06.25 fine arts donation from Dunaway in the amount of $1,000. Mr. Golden. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Likewise, this is a gift to our music programs from Roger and Carrie Dunaway. Definitely thank them for that. as I understand it, this is actually an unrestricted gift that doesn't require matching funds. So, thank you to the Dunaway family. Do recommend approval. Thank

035you. We have a motion and a second. Any discussion? Okay, we're ready to vote. The vote is 10 yes, zero no. That donation is approved. Item number five, approval of general purpose school fund 06.25 TCAT donation dual enrollment in the amount of $5,73723. Mr. Golden. Thank you, Mr. Chair. This is a grant donation from TCAT the Tennessee College of Applied Technology to to fund teachers salaries for our college and career technical education program. So, thank you to TCAT. I do recommend approval. Thank you. We have a motion and a second. Any discussion? We're ready to vote. The vote is 10 yes, zero no. Donation is approved. Item number six, approval of central cafeteria fund 06.25 25 commodities increase in the amount of $570,82612. Mr. Golden. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, this is actually a

036revenue and expense equal entry based on actual commodity purchases over the course of this school year. so do recommend approval to Rachel to I'm trying to figure out the exact term to reconcile our budget. Is that the appropriate term? Mhm. Do recommend approval. Thank you. We have a motion and a second. Any discussion and everybody ready to vote? The vote is 10 yes, zero no. That item is approved. Item number seven, approval of 2024 2025 budget adjustments final year final year-end intracategory general purpose school fund. Mr. Golden. Thank you, Mr. Chair. attached to this document are about six printed pages of changes and adjustments to intracategory items in our general purpose school fund budget for end of the year corrections. No new revenue. It's just correcting the lines for the end of the year for

037accounting purposes. I recommend approval. Thank you. We have motion in a second and Mr. Galbert. Thank you, Mr. Chair. I just want to thank Miss Farmer and her staff for all the all the work they put in. I mean, these as a as a fellow CFO and accounting nerd you know, getting getting all the stuff cleaned up and having a clean audit opinion on a year year after year after a year isn't on accident. So, she Rachel, you put you answer all of our questions and get all the accounting done correctly and timely manner. It's it's it's not an easy task. She makes it look easy. we see the budgeting process, but the accounting process for 50 plus schools and countless countless hands that are in it and to to continue to continue to get

038a clean audit and it just means that we're doing something right. So, I just wanted to acknowledge that. So, thank you. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. G, for that. And I want to tell one quick item. The most recent audit finding we had was because we were actually saving money with a purchasing program through pre-bid products. The audit finding came and the legislature changed the law because they recognized what we were doing was making sense. So, it's not just a clean audit finding. It's it's it's doing the right thing and convincing folks who can make it make a change make a change when it's the right thing to do. So, thank you, Rachel. Any other questions or comments? Okay, we're ready to ready to vote. The vote is 10 yes, zero no. The item is

039approved. Item number eight, approval of 2024 2025 budget adjustments final year end intercategory central cafeteria. Mr. Golden. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Likewise, this is the same structure for Central Cafeteria making the end of year adjustments. Recommend approval. All right, we have a motion and a second. Any discussion? Okay, we're ready to vote. The vote is 10 yes, zero no. The item is approved. Item nine, approval of 2024 2025 budget adjustments final year end incategory extended school program. Mr. Golden. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Likewise, this third budget that we have it's the end of year intracategory. Recommend approval for that as well. A motion in a second. Any discussion? Okay, we're ready to vote. The vote is 10 yes, zero no. Item is approved. The final item in the budget category or the 202 2024 25

040budget category is the approval of capital resolution intent to fund 07.25 in the amount of $14,135,800. Mr. Golden. Thank you, Mr. Chair, this is the annual capital request that we took to the county commission after your vote back in March that has already actually gone through the county budget committee and has gotten approved 40 to take to county government. This resolution is putting that approval into resolution format which is required to take to the county commission and we anticipate the county commission will review this in July. Do recommend approval. Okay, we have a motion, a second. Any discussion, Mr. Gal? So, you said you said that they would take this up in July. So, they will this isn't on the agenda for for the budget committee on on Friday. That's correct. It is not on

041the annual agenda for budget. there. I was just thinking if we needed to potentially add this to the to the line item of of things that we might might have to talk about at the special called meeting, but it won't even be up again. That's correct. They wait on the capital budget until after the the annual budget. Any further discussion? Okay, we're ready to vote. The vote is 10 yes, zero no. Okay, the item is approved. We'll now move to item C, approval of the differentiated pay plan or pay proposal, I guess it is. Mr. Golden. Thank you, Mr. Chair. the state has us fill out annually a form that we have included in the packet called the 2526 differentiated pay plan. and you've looked at the detail and you see that. I do want

042to reference a comment from Miss Vicky Hall, our assistant superintendent for human resources in her memo. then you can see that up on the screen that largely the differentiated pay plan is to address those hard to staff subject areas. We have discussions with the WCA leadership through our PEKA process as we prepare for that and we are we the estimated cost for that spending is somewhere around $1.3 million for those hard to fill. So I do recommend approval of this form so we can submit it to the state. All right. Thank you. Can I get a motion in a second? Thank you. Any discussion on this plan? Okay, seeing none, we're ready to vote. The vote is 10 yes, zero no. Okay, the item is approved. We will now move to item D and these

043are board policies for first and final reading. We have three of those. the first one being item policy rather 4.7000 testing programs. I know Miss Osbrook isn't here. Mr. Galbre from policy committee. Do you want to speak to those? Sure, that's fine. yeah, for the these first two 4.7 and 002 are continuation of the of the change that we made last month. it's just it's just editorial change around around the percentage that is used around the TCAP or end of course testing and then ultimately the TCAP testing. So 4.7 000 is on lines page on page two line three it's it talks about end of course test shall be 15% six to eight tests shall be 10% and then 3 to five shall not be used for student grades. So we're just making some clarifications.

044Okay thanks for that. So, we have a motion and a second. Any discussion on this policy? All right. Seeing none, we're ready to vote. And reminder, this is first and final. The vote is 10 yes, zero no. Okay. Policy is approved. item 2 4.70002 middle school examinations. Yes. So this 4.70002 is for middle school. And what we did was we pulled pulled this section out of lines 26 through 29. U basically put it in the other policy so that we don't speak to the TCAP assessment on the middle school examinations. The waiting. Okay. Thank you. We have a motion and a second. Any discussion? Okay, we're ready to vote. First and final reading. The vote is 10 yes, zero no. Policy is approved. Item 36.312 wireless communications. This is a new policy. Mr. Galbreth. Thank

045you, Mr. Chair. this policy is new policy that is the bulk of it is required by state law. obviously we had a good bit of discussion at the at the work session around around potential changes other than other than state law. So, we'll note in green, okay, we see it up there. In green is are the changes that were, the red were the changes to made to, to the original draft. in green and the strike the struck blue lines are the changes that were made since the work session. So, what was added since the work session is silenced and not used rather than turned off and stored. and then the and then again in that's on that's on line three. And then on lines four and five for for 9 through 12 I think oh

046we did change penalties to to consequences. Thank you Julie. And then we updated the school day to well we took they I think we struck the on lines 23 on line 23 or improper storage took that away since we took the storage out of the first line. I don't think we talked about that but that was a good catch by Dana. And then on line 24 we changed school day from instructional time. so those are all the changes that were that were made and we can we'll have plenty of discussion, I'm sure. All right. Thanks for that review. And can I get a motion in a second to get this policy on the floor? Thank you. All right. Any discussion or questions about this policy as presented? Dr. Ree. So, I've been pretty clear that

047I'm a strong advocate for a true away for the day policy. at the end of the discussion surrounding this policy at the work session, I proposed a compromise of sorts. I believe that we should be leaders in this regard and the data is very very clear on phones and wireless devices in schools. there's numerous resources out there and I just would like to to list a few. There's the phone free schools movement. There's everyschool.org. There's a way for the day. There's strings screen. All of these are websites where you can go and look at all the resources they have, all of the data, not to mention all of the books that have been written about the subject. The most notable one being The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Height. So, thank you to our guest speaker

048for sharing some of the data, but I wanted to share a few more things. All of this, all of these resources, you can find the citations and research supporting them. I'm not going to list all the citations, but I just want to highlight a few things. It takes 20 minutes to refocus on learning after phone interruption. There are 44 studies that have found that excessive use of smartphones in class decreases academic performance. Just the presence of turned off phones in classes reduces cognitive abilities. So that goes to that stored piece. 72% of US high school teachers say cell phone distraction is a major problem in the classroom. When it comes to smartphones and friends, which now we're talking about transition periods and lunchtime, teen loneliness doubled between the years 2012 and 2018, right when smartphones

049became very prevalent. 30% of teens wish they had more friends. 54% of teenagers say social media pulls their attention away from friends who are physically present. It takes 200 hours of spending time together in person to build a solid relationship or friendship. Only 32% of seniors say they gather with friends almost every day. This is down from 44% in 2010. And then we can get into smartphones and mental health. And I'm not going to, you know, blavorver the point. But 30% of girls 12 to 17 suffer from major depression. 3 hours per day on social media doubles the risk of depression and anxiety. Self harm is up 62% from the previous decade. 41 41% of teens with the highest social media use rate their overall mental health as poor or very poor. So what I

050proposed at the end of the work session which we you know didn't really discuss was that we amend this policy and exclude lunchtime. So for K through 12, it would be away for the day and then we have a grace period for the first semester of next fall. So fall 2025 semester, it's a grace period for implementation. That can be the time when district staff, school staff, the tech use committee work together to figure out what's the best way to implement the policy. what do consequences look like? Educating our parent population and students on what the data says and why this is a good move. And so I'm not necessarily going to make that amendment at this time. I wanted to discuss it with everybody here first to see their thoughts on that. I think

051some of the biggest push backs that we get from parents is that they want to be able to contact their kids during the day. And I understand that. I'm I'm guilty of that. But I think that part of that education piece is realizing that high schoolers, teenagers, their prefrontal cortex isn't fully developed. And what does the prefrontal cortex do? It helps in weighing consequences, resisting impulses, and making reasonable judgments. It's crucial for academic focus and risk evaluation. So, teens are more neurologically prone to distraction, emotional reactivity, and pure influence, making a way for the day policies especially revalent and protective. So saying that our teens, our high schoolers should be able to have those executive functioning skills to to be able to easily put away their phones isn't necessarily the case for all teens. Maybe

052for some of them, but I think for a lot of them, we're setting them up for for failure because of that prefrontal cortex not being fully developed. Not to mention the addiction piece of it that I haven't even really spoken about. So, I think we can find alternative ways to to allow parents and our teens to contact each other, you know, during the school day or towards the end of the school day. I understand that schedules may change and whatnot, but we were able to do it before cell phones became a thing, and I think we'll be able to figure out a way to do it now. So, with that, I'll yield and let somebody else have the floor. anyone else, Miss Edma? yeah. I also agree with away for the day and everything that's

053been said by our guest speaker and by Claire. And I would like to ask Dr. Web if she could speak to what she talked about at our work session about what the principles and the district is learning through the study hall and what what they're seeing and what they and kind of what their goals are as well as far as socialization with students. Thank you, Miss Hypn. I'm happy to speak to that. It's been a rich conversation point with our secondary principles particularly our high school principles with what they see and have seen over the course of time with our study hall students. one one principal shared with us that over time especially over the last several years previously that you would walk down the hallway and you could tell from the activity and the

054noise coming from a class period which are the academic courses and which are the study hall periods. over time what that principal has observed is that now study hall periods are as quiet as an academic period when there may be a test taking place because all the students are focused on a device and that there is a minimalized conversation point or communication that's taken place. those conversations have really started our dialogue in regards to what's healthy for students. Similar to what the research has said, we do have a focus in all of our secondary schools and elementary about utilizing time during the day for building community with students, face-to-face community outside of of digital communication. and we see that's something that students crave and need is a sense of community and face-to-face communication. So that

055is a point of emphasis of building community in all of our buildings. We see we see community building as the foundation of safety in our buildings where students feel safe not only with their peers but with adults in the building where they can have open dialogue at will. so to that our high school principles do feel that students having their phone away during that study hall period is also beneficial and that's that's supported by our group as well. and then just to end that conversation, since one of the topics of, is going to be building student relationships next year, I think this falls in line with that. I think this conversation also speaks to the safety issue that parents and you know of the district is keenly aware of you know when that when things

056like that happen around the country and also it is you know the really the time that kids can have the freedom to talk they don't really have the freedom to talk during class but they do have freedom to talk with their peers is at lunchtime. time and I want them to have the the best opportunity to do that and that's why I I want to advocate for away for the day or bellto bell and I really am also thinking about students besides the safety aspect but their emotional health and developmentally the socialization I think that's really really important part aspect of at how we educate our kids. Thank you, Mr. Galborth. Thank you, Mr. Chair. And thanks to both of you and Claire. I completely agree. I like this approach. I mean, we were kind

057of brainstorming on different ways to to address this on Thursday. I mean, I was I was in favor of of taking a more excuse me, taking a faster approach on adoption. but but I think this kind of combines that so we can we can go ahead and make the decision now. we roll out the get the get the feedback from the from the technology committee and the staff collaboration on on how to roll this out, how to how to make a full communication plan. and I guess my question to Jason, I know I know you will you probably won't recommend us, but but if if this is, as you say, the will of the board, would would it be a would it be a possibility for for any schools for Dr. web to potentially go

058to any any principles and see if anybody wants to wants to adopt this quicker to as a as a pilot, if you will, just to to to see what kind of issues there there might be. I don't know if there are any principles that might that are that are kind of more gung-ho on on this as an opportunity for for their school or not. We could definitely have that conversation. We have not had that conversation yet. philosophically, I like the idea like we talked about at our at our work session. I I think that the likelihood of us getting there to to some version of this is high. as I spoke to, how we get there is very important. because of what we've seen from some of our neighbors both both neighbors in in in

059quality of the work and physical neighbors right you know some of some benchmarking districts that we work with out of state plus plus some locals and to your to your comment about you weren't sure if I was going to recommend it I do think it's important for us to do the prep work and so when I'd mentioned philosophically I like this idea I think that having some time to prepare is going to be very important how we prepare we've actually got a plan in place with our committee and I know we've had some discussions about that and I actually jotted down the four content areas that our that our technology committee is working on right now and by the way that just as a reminder that committee includes parent representation school administrator representation and teacher

060representation they were working on four main categories one integrating technology ology in in in the appropriateness of that in in our work. Second, screen time. Third, personal devices, which is what we're talking about right now. And then fourth, parent resources, because we also know especially based on what the state has given us for computer standards that students even at the kindergarten level come to us largely having already used devices even multiple hours at a time. So I, you know, how I am, I can't give short answers. but but from a short answer perspective, we can have that discussion about about that pilot. Well, I appreciate that and I guess this I think I think so much so much of the of the time that needs to be spent on on this research. I believe needs

061to be focused on on engagement of of the committee and parents validating the concerns that they have and coming up with solutions and ways that we can way ways that we can address. I know one one person I guess had already already talked to to Brian or maybe it about about the ability of of parents maybe to communicate through to their to their students email as opposed to their as opposed to their u their cell phone. But I know that might be a there a might be a technology problem that isn't isn't available for for that just because of security concerns. But but if there's a you know it's all it's those things and I and I believe the longer amount of time that we have to to help solve those things and get that

062plan rather than waiting until August or September to to start having these discussions again. I'd much rather just go ahead and do it now. if we need to make tweaks along the way before January we have the opportunity to do that. it's nice to have clear direction from the board and then have and let and then let the let the let the staff go and kind of act on that and give you plenty of time. So that's my Mr. Welch. So we're all in agreement that you know we don't need it during the instructional time. Obviously, I would say I'm not even concerned about parental communication during the classroom either, frankly. if I'm going to be honest, if you need to get a hold of your child and it's that important, then call the main

063office and they can grab them and get a note the same as it did when I was a kid. Figuring out what they want from Chick-fil-A after school is not a priority, which is what most of the techs are. It's it's just it doesn't need to be pulled away. I use the analogy the other night and I use it again. When I coached soccer, wrestling, the parents coaching from the sideline would drive me bonkers. It's stop. Now's the time they need to be focused on the field and the mat. Stop. And I could see it the same way for the instructor in the classroom. Stop. They need to be focused on math or science or whatever it is at the time. So, yeah, I'm I'm fine with all that. again, my only concern is the

064law of unintended consequences and I think what the policy is doing right now is it's restricting it in 95% of the cases. It's restricting during the instructional time. and if we have during lunch or something like that, they can access it. for me, I I think it's good to have a beta period. Let's not go all the way the very first. And what we're talking about here is one semester really. So it's it's not that big of a deal if we're talking about a grace period anyway. It's let's launch this 95% of the way year one. Evaluate and year two we can decide do we need to go 100% of the way do we need to go 97 98 99. I you know we did get a we didn't need them when we were kids.

065That's That's right. But the world is different from when we were kids and there's tools. We didn't need Smartboards when we were kids. And I certainly wouldn't advocate pulling those out of the classroom and going back to chalk. It's, you know, technology changes. And I think there are times when there are valid uses of it. and those are going to be fewer and far between. And I don't want the tail to wag the dog here, but let's I said, you know, why don't we evaluate what those are? we can get the kids used to it and then if we do want to restrict the rest of the way we can do it. That said, it's I don't know. It's not a hill that I am going to die on one way or the other. I

066think I'm going to vote against the amendment, but if it passes, I'll pass for the policy either way. Mr. Cash, thank you, Mr. Chair. I think Mr. Welch is exactly right. I think we're all on board here. I'd like to thank thank Claire for coming in this evening and just reinforcing what we all know is going on. I mean we have a state law now and some of the reasons many of the reasons for that is to teach our children in schools to think for themselves not be calling mom and dad at home or for every decision and looking each other in the eye and having a meaningful conversation. I think this is just so important. my concern is I don't think it should go on and on and on. I think Miss Reeves has

067got a good plan there first semester and any and all changes should be made in that time period and then we'll have a vote and it to re redwrite this. I don't know if we have to put it in writing right now or there's got to be an amendment, but I'd like to see something that's in writing that says we are going to do this, this, this, and this. We're going to let the committee do their thing, and we're going to roll up all this information, and but I think there needs to be a time frame to to get this done. I know I've listened to you know we talked about this at length and you know there's reasons for principles wanting a little more time and the reason for this for more time and

068you know it all makes sense and timing is everything but there needs to be a cut off and a time where we sit down and say okay this is going to happen or this is going to happen. So that's all I would add to this conversation. Thank you. Thank you, Miss Wyatt. Thank you, Mr. Chair. I support also bellto bell. I have a little bit of hesitation like was said earlier about how we get there and what it looks like during lunch. Dr. Webb, I'd love for you to speak to how you feel about our infrastructure around lunch and what it looks like in high school. and just I think that that's a duty-free period for the teachers. And I listened to the work session and I wrote down your quote about that it sets

069the tone if you have a rule change, but students know immediately if you're not able to enforce it. And so I just want to make sure that we are setting our definitely our students up for success. Like I said, I definitely support belltoell just considering the timeline, but also our teachers because I if it's tricky at one part of the day, I don't want that to be tricky at other parts of the day. So, I'd love to hear your thoughts on the lunch support. Thank you for that. Our concerns from an administrative standpoint are just that it's the education and time to educate and the time to implement and have structures in place. lunchtime at the high school level is a much less structured time. We do have teachers who are rotate on and off

070of third duty-free lunch versus those who are stationed and are part of our supervision staff. But it's a looser supervision. Students are not confined to the cafeteria. We let them go around the building, visit teachers if they need to, those teachers who are on duty to get additional help in a lot of cases. eat in the cafeteria with small groups of friends. that where they don't have to necessarily be in the confines of the school cafeteria. so our feedback isn't necessarily in in dispute to any of the data that's been presented. In fact, our educators in the building concur that the cell phone use is a is a distraction and not in support of positive student mental health and the way they interact with one another. It's the time to educate and it's the time

071to implement that we're asking for. and certainly Dr. Reeves has given a proposal that allows us some time to do so. we just want to make sure that we are educating everyone involved, parents, students, teachers, and that we have time to put a structured plan in place to ensure that if we're saying that something isn't allowed that we're able to enforce it. and so that does take a little time with just a few weeks before school begins. Thank you. Yes, ma'am. I'm going to before we get back around to a second time for speaking, I'm going to recognize myself just for a minute for a comment on this. Speaking just as a board member, not as the chair, but one of the things that I took away from the discussion at the work session on

072Thursday was I felt like a pretty good consensus that eventually we're going to find ourselves at a bell-to-bell situation. And I think that's it's pretty clear that there's a lot of appetite for that and a lot of evidence to support that. my concern and I stated it Thursday was that we created a committee recently as we all know and each of us got to for maybe the first time appoint each board member got to appoint a parent to that committee for the purpose of studying these kinds of issues. and that committee has already said that cell phone cell phone usage was the thing it wanted to take up first and we have two board members who were on that committee. it may be semantics in terms of the timing, in terms of the cadence of

073how we do this, but I just feel like I would rather not put an affirmative bell-to-bell and and affirmatively taking out the lunch option until that committee has had a chance to actually meet and talk about some of these things and give us some feedback. it may be very unlikely that committee comes back with anything other than bell-to-bell, but in the in the slight possibility or the slight chance that they do come back with something different, I'd love us to be in a position to amend our policy later to reflect that if that's the will of the board. So again, it's really not a argument on principle. It's more of a timing issue and there's also some merit in my opinion to allowing there to be an adjustment for parents, students as you said, Dr.

074Webb, for staff and faculty to adjust to what what we're adopting tonight. If we adopt what's in front of us as written, it's already a slight move beyond what the state law requires. so I think it's a reasonable exception to allow the lunch period for now. I would I would be opposed to striking la that lunch period in our policy. I think we should codify what's in front of us and then give ourselves some time. I agree with you, Mr. Cash, that it doesn't need to be open-ended or indefinite. We need to think about a reasonable time frame in which that can happen, whether that's the first nine weeks, whether that's the first semester. But I think we're all putting ourselves out on record here as being in favor of the direction we're going. It's

075just a matter of the as it's been said a couple of times how we get there and those slight detailed differences that we're that we're talking about. So with that we'll go back to speakers who've been previously recognized. Miss Edma yeah I think we've had a good discussion similar to Thursday night. and I think I am reading the room. but I would like just to propose that we strike line five and part of six. Students in grades 9 through 12 may use a wireless communication device during the students lunch period. I'd like to make an amendment and just see what the will of the board is at this time officially. Okay, that is a proper amendment, proper motion. Is there a second? Is there a second on the I'm sorry. Okay, so we have a

076motion. We have a motion on Miss Hibma's amendment. Do we have a second on the amendment? Okay, we have a second on the amendment. Any discussion on the amendment? Okay, Dr. Reeves. So, with that motion to amend, it does not include any kind of grace period. So, Oh, yes. So, I wanted to point that out. yeah, I that was one thing that I really liked on Thursday night is what Claire had mentioned about the grace period. So can I change my amendment? You can you can withdraw and restate your Okay. Then I would like to withdraw and restate. So Dr. Reeves, will you withdraw your second on the amendment? Okay. Okay. yeah. So, I'd like to make an amendment to strike out lines five, that sentence in lines five and six. Do I need to

077repeat what it says? Would you like that or please? Okay. students in grades 9 through 12 may use a wireless communication device during the students lunch period and then include language that talks to having a grace period for just the roll out of this program. Would that be sufficient, Claire? We would need to state the actual language of the Okay. I don't have I'm wasn't this Yeah. wasn't planning on that, but Okay. Okay, let's think about this. yeah, I don't Claire, what what did you Am I allowed to talk? So, I'm gonna it's going to be awkward, but will you withdraw again? And then and maybe then let's Yeah, because I was listening to her, but I don't have anything, you know, in a precise language because I wasn't planning on doing this, but Yeah,

078that's I want to That's fair. Yeah, sure. That's fair. Okay, so I have the floor. Yeah. So, I wasn't I was still wanting to hear from some more board members before going forward with an amendment. I mean, the last person to really speak was the Mr. Brown, not in his capacity as a chair. I was going to call in here, but and so I guess just to address what you said about the committee, you know, I still think number one, the committee recognized that due to the law, the board, they recognized that the board needed to bring forth a policy. And in fact, we did hear from several committee members who parents who were appointed to that committee who emailed us and advocated for an away for the day policy and shared resources some of

079the same websites that I mentioned to to tonight. So to your point, I do think that we are moving in that direction. I just land on I think it's better to rip the band-aid, if you will. We know that this is going to be a big transition and I would rather set the expectation now. Give the grace period for implementation. Let the committee work with the district staff to figure out what what does that away piece look like? not used. I mean maybe the phone should be stored given the data on given the data on just having a phone present in and seeing it can affect focus. So but those are things that I think the committee and district staff can work on as well as the communication piece with parents and educating students and

080parents alike. you know, Superintendent Golden has a leadership team of students that you work with and maybe they can be leaders on this. Maybe we can have some student ambassadors who lead the way. Again, I want us to be a district that leads on this and doesn't look to other districts to see what they're doing. And so, if I come back to I always try to be very consistent. If I come back to what I as a board member prioritize, it's always doing what's best for students and student outcomes and what the data says and I think it's very clear on all those points. But I haven't heard from everyone to know if you know their thoughts on the amendment. So before we hear from anyone else, no one's seeking recognition yet, but guys, I

081think we need to clear the board because the amendment was withdrawn. So we're really still on the main motion technically. I just know it says discussion at the top. Motion to amend and second. So we those have been withdrawn. So okay. All right. On the Mr. Welch on the main motion. Yes. Okay. That's proper motion. Is there any objection to the question? Okay. Okay, we have an objection. So, we'll vote on the motion for previous question. can we Jeff? Can we do that by voice vote? Can you explain what what the Okay. Mo previous calling the question is essentially in other words motion for previous question which means that cuts off debate and that we proceed directly to a vote on the main on the motion itself. requires a two vote on the motion or

082the policy on the policy as written. So, we'd be going straight to a vote on the policy as written, but previous question requires a two. Let me clarify that I didn't wasn't trying to cut off. I was calling question on the amendment so that we would vote. There is no Well, the amendment had been withdrawn previously. So, there was no amendment. We were on the main motion. Claire's amendment. She had not made it. You know, you're right. I'm sorry. Let me withdraw my question. Okay. Sorry. Motion motion withdrawal. Okay. So, we are back on the main motion. Mr. Cash, thank you, Mr. Chair. I'm I agree with Claire 100%. but should we have something about a timeline? What is the timeline for this committee? Is it a month, two months, three months? Well, I'll let

083Jason get to the details of this, but the committee is SK is and there's two members of the board who are on the committee, so you're welcome to speak on this, too. Right. the committee is set to meet, I believe, in August or September. August 12th. So, it's set to meet in August and again in September. Is that correct? That's correct. So, and the first meeting they had, it's my understanding that they moved the cell phone issue to the to the list for discussion. So presumably then in those two monthly meetings that they have, they would be talking about this issue and potentially coming up with recommendations or suggestions on what we might as as a district might do. Okay. All right. Thank you, Dr. Reeves. Okay. So, I think I am just going to

084make the motion and if it fails, it fails and then we'll vote on the policy. So, All right. I do have language. So I move to amend policy 6.312 by replacing eight with 12 in line two and striking the language in line lines three starting with students in grades 9 through 12 may p possess and ending in line six with during the students lunch period and then I propose that we add a section titled implementation and grace period and that section would be worded as follows to ensure a smooth transition and allow Now, time for a community education and adjustment. This policy shall be implemented with a grace period during the fall 2025 semester. During this time, students will receive reminders for for policy violations. Full enforcement, including applicable disciplinary consequences, will begin with the

085spring 2026 semester. All right, everyone got that? So, I think it might be wise to It is a proper motion, but we need to walk through and we need a second. Let's walk through the Do we have a second? All right, we have a second. So, let's walk through those point by point so we can all reference our own the document, the policy document we have in front of us to make sure we're all seeing each change. So, your first change was in line two. Yes. So, the eight would would Okay. so in line two the eight would be changed to 12. Okay. And then starting on line three where it starts with students in grades 9 through 12 moves into line four. That whole sentence would be strike would be stricken. and it goes

086into line five. And then it continues. Students in grades 9 through 12 may use a wireless communication device during the students lunch period. That would be stricken as well into line six. So everything from the word students in line three all the way through lunch lunch period period in line six would be stricken. Yes. Okay. Okay. Keep going. All right. Then I propose inserting a a section titled implementation and grace period. So I think that would logically fall after the ex the exceptions se section. So basically on line 22 would be the start implementation and grace period. And then the following would be lines 23 through 26. To ensure a smooth transition and allow time for community education and adjustment, this policy shall be implemented with a grace period during the fall 2025 semester. During

087this time, students will receive reminders for policy violations. Full enforcement, including applicable disciplinary consequences, will begin with the spring 2026 semester. Okay. Does everyone have clarity on that language? So, starting in January. Okay. So, we have a motion and a second. So the we're on the floor for discussion of the amendment, Mr. Galbert. So, Claire, the question on on how that would be implemented, would essentially so the so the consequences here, wouldn't apply. And I just want to make sure that were there any consequences included in the in the state law that we that we have to uphold as of as of July 1. The short answer is yes. It allows confiscation of of the devices by the teacher during that instructional period. It allows for it or does it that is correct. it so

088it does it does not require that is a remedy. So that's my so my question with regard to implementation with the with the grace period because I was in my mind I was I was thinking that the that the policy itself would would be active July 1 as as written today. But the change from the basically the amendment the change from lunch away from lunch would be would be the would be the grace period. and so because to because today with if we if we pass the policy as it is then then the consequences as defined and as implemented in some kind of procedure to be more specific than this would actually be applicable on August 1st or Jul reg the next school year. as opposed to if if everything is in if everything is

089is on a is on a full semester implementation then the then there's no there's no enforcement of even the instructional time piece. so that's a I just I just wonder if you if you thought thought through that and Mr. Chair, if I may add a little bit to that, I do have a concern about whether we would truly be implementing and enforcing the portion of the state law that we do have a responsibility to implement with this language because in instructional time the rule does apply immediately. my suggestion is have a preface to to to what you wrote for non-instructional time restrictions at high school, that's still the implementation. Yes. Yeah. I think that I think that addresses my question. Yeah. If if if we add that to to to what you read in the

090implementation and grace period because we don't have the authority to have the grace period for instructional time. Do you amend your motion, sir? All right. I'll sec I will Okay. So hang on a second. so help me Jeff. Does she need to withdraw and then restate it with the It's incorporated by virtue of her accepting the recommendation and the second accepting it. The motion has been changed by virtue of the maker. Got it. Okay. So, if you're in agreement, that language is added the preface that Jason just recited. okay. So, that is the amendment with those additional words. Dr. Johnson. so again, I think we're all in agreement to bail to bail. I think the way we get there is different. I agree with you, Mr. Brown, around we've created a technology committee and we

091talk about wanting community input and if we do this now, we're kind of negating some of what we wanted that committee to do. the second thing is what Dr. Webb talked about at lunch. I mean, I'm not sure how you're going to enforce this. And if we take it out now, I would rather have it now than giving it back because we figure out we can't enforce it rather than you know, giving taking it back and then giving it like taking it away now and then giving it back to them. So, I'm I'm not in favor of the amendment at this time. Like I said, Dr. Reeves, I didn't Okay. anyone else? Okay, Mr. Welch. Yeah. Yeah. I don't want to be a dead horse. I just I just want point I think we're getting

092awfully convoluted here over something that's probably 97% of the way there that we all are on board with. and again as we go down this path, if we decide we do want to ramp it up, we can we don't even have to wait until next year. We can do a mid-year change when it comes back. The other thing I would say is listen to your staff. They are telling you go fast, but please don't go pedal to the metal. give us a little bit of time to adjust and you know it might be wise to listen to them on that. Just something to consider. All right. Anyone else seek recognition on the amendment? Okay. If I may make a final comment. Yes. I'm I'm I'm going to spend maybe close to 60 seconds on my

093recommendation. I'm going to give you the preface. I don't recommend passing this and I'm going to give you a little bit of reasons why. You all have you all have touched on some of those that it is important to have the plan in place. But I will say that this this amendment mitigates that concern with an implementation period in January. I think we can get there in a better way if we allow the committee to do its work and make recommendations to us. If we have recommendations in August or September, this draft timeline that this amendment has could still be achieved and probably will be achieved with without this amendment. so that's honor the committee's work as as a couple of you spoke about. they may give us some insight that we don't know right

094now because they're doing they're doing some work. Third thing I want to mention is our policy policy the and we touched on this a little bit at the work session and the language says on matters of unusual urgency by an affirmative vote of a majority of the members of the board, the board may wave the second reading and take immediate action to to adopt new or revised policies. and then the final sentence says the board may also vote to wave the second reading of of a proposed amendment to a polic if a policy is considered housekeeping or clerical in nature. What I would submit to you is that the urgent part is making sure that we institutionalize what our legislature has told us to do. We need to have that in place now. And that's

095why we're recommending this for first and final reading. But with a proposed timetable of implementation for an additional piece in January at our high schools, we can honor that process so that so that community members can come for for second reading can come and listen and speak at that second period after that second reading here at the at the board. So for those reasons, because I think we can achieve this taking a different road and still honoring u our parent and stakeholder involvement, I don't recommend adoption of this amendment even though I suspect that ultimately we're going to get there. All right. Thank you. All right. So, we're going to move to a vote on the amendment as as read earlier. all right. We can proceed to vote. The vote is four yes, six no.

096Okay, the amendment fails. we're back on the main motion which is the policy as drafted in your board packet for the evening. Any further discussion on the policy? Okay, seeing none, we will move to a vote on the policy. The vote is 10 yes, zero no. Okay. The policy is adopted and a reminder that is first and final. So we will this will go into effect July 1 in compliance with state law. And M and Mr. Chair, I did want to let you know we will have a discussion with Mr. Galbreth about policy committee and make sure that we continue this discussion. And would it be I think per the other discussion about the technology committee, it might be useful to send around just as a reminder the dates of when that committee is meeting

097just for the benefit of the rest of the board and the public so that we remind ourselves of that and then we stay on stay on point about what they're discussing and any of the feedback we might expect. Thank you. We'll do that. I'm sorry, Mr. Bostic. Just to that point, when it comes to the meeting, I know we were thinking that they're expecting to talk about cell phones and stuff early on, right? Are we going to have any like data or recommendations from them at the time or do we have to wait till the committee is fully done before we're going to get we do expect to have some data and recommendations early? And Miss Jenny Lopez is actually leading that committee work. Miss Lopez, I'm going to ask you to step up if

098you would and give a give an answer to Mr. Bostic's question. we're going to discuss cell phone use at our very first meeting, which is September 12th. I'm sorry, August 12th. August 12th. In September, we'll reconvene and at the end of that meeting, the outcome will be to have a recommendation for the board on cell phone use in September. In September. Correct. Because we're not going there are several topics. There are four topics as as Superintendent Golden mentioned. However, we're not waiting till the end of those four topics to bring you recommendations. We're going to bring you our recommendation at the end of each topic. So, you'll have a recommendation in September, midepptember on cell phone use and then you'll hear from us again when we finish the next topic and so on and so

099forth. So, you'll be hearing from the committee on each topic as each topic ends. So the idea is to start a topic, finish that topic. Yes, there will be lots of data that we're bringing to that. All of the data that Dr. Ree mentioned is going to be brought and we're going to have some discussions on why this is important. And then the committee is going to make a recommendation in September as to what their wishes are on cell phones, how to implement, what the consequences would look like. All of those things I've been writing down so that I have a full list of what it is you want to hear about from that committee. Got you. Do we know from a timing standpoint will that be before the September board meeting? I think it'll

100be right about the same time. We'll have to double check that. It's right about the same time. We're meeting on Tuesday. So, I think we will have something that Tuesday and it'll be brought to you. So, it'll be kind of like the session couple like two days before the board session. But I will tell you one of the comments I made to that committee when they started their work was we want you to drive this as well. so and those of you who are there you may remember me making a reference maybe not using those exact words. so we're going to make sure we inform the committee of the discussion the board has had these last few weeks and because that may give them a prompt as well. Correct. and I will be communicating with

101the committee prior to that meeting so they so they're prepared for that meeting. So I'll give them a synopsis of what the what the conversation here has been. I'll give them obviously our policy as it as it goes into effect July 1st. So they'll have lots of reading to do before they get to the meeting so they come prepared to have deeper discussions on what the data says, what what the studies, the research says about cell phone use at the schools. So they'll have lots of information. they're coming to the meeting with. So we hope to take advantage of those twohour meetings to really have deep discussions and then a recommendation to you. Great. Great. Good. Good. And then I would just say like from Dr. Webb if any additional like teacher stuff that you

102have at that point too would be very very helpful that we could have it all at by that work session would be awesome. Thanks. Thank you. Thank you Miss Lopez. Mr. Lopez answered I think she answered it after I raised my hand, but but I think what I heard her say was that you intend to to not only have a recommendation of of affirming what I what we're what we're all kind of moving towards is bell-to-bell, but but I think what I'm particularly particularly interested in is the details on on the on you know the how and the not not the why necessarily because we're all there most of us are there on that but the how in terms of where storage like the details on that the implementation the communication the the consequences like

103that's what it's it's all the it's all the details that we don't have time to do here so that's what that's what I'm really looking for I'm speaking for me not the not the board but yes what I have is that we're going to have a recommendation on how we implement it. So how we implement it has a lot to do with how we communicate to students how we communicate to parents. So we'll have the how like what does that communication look like to students and parents so they understand the why because I think the why is going to be really important to our community. Why are we doing this? It's not to have one more rule, but it's actually because what research is telling us is that it's best practice, that it's best for

104students, all the things that we've talked about. and so the how we do it, how we implement it, and then what do those consequences look like? And then one of the bigger issues is how do we store it, right? Because a lot of the conversations we had at the very first meeting was do we store it in pockets? Is a pocket okay? Is a locker okay? Is a backpack okay? So we had those conversations already and there was lots of interest in having more conversations on that. So I have shared already lots of research for the committee to look at over the summer and some of that research does talk about different ways to implement that. But that's definitely going to be a conversation. So when I come back to you, I'll have recommendations on

105how we implement how we when we say store or put away, what does that mean? because I think we definitely need to define what that looks like, what that is. and so and then I'll have recommendations also on the implementation in in terms of consequences. What are consequences look like? So, we'll bring all of that back to you and of course those will be recommendations for you to discuss. Sounds good. Thank you. Okay. Thank you. Thank you. Okay. We're going to move on to item E which are we have two board two board policies for second reading. the first of which is 4.601 student and parent/guardian rights to access tests and quizzes. Mr. Galbreth, anything to report out from policy committee? no. I think we've we've had we've had adequate discussion that policy several times

106and so I appreciate the u the addition of the of the language from after the work session page two line four to to address Miss Buffini's issue with the with the with the reassessment piece that this the language method should be chosen by the teacher or teaching team and may not necessarily lead to grade changes. I think the the discussion around this you know it it definitely it definitely started to it started as a as a well the primary primary purpose of the policy was to provide test and quizzes back as we were talking about test and quizzes wanted to also address how how this reassessment was going on. And I think my initial draft which wasn't with staff input was focused on test corrections because because that was the that's the method by which

107certain schools choose to choose to c not codify it but implement the lack of policy that is today. and so this is a definitely a better adaptation. and I will I just want to address the comments that were that were made. I think just the thought about this and Dr. Web can can chime in here, but when even the kind of the preamble to to this policy when it talks about retaining the purpose retaining academic assessments and then as appropriate promote student learning through reteing and reassessment, I think that adequately addresses both both halves of this policy. and for me, the difference in an assessment and a reassessment, is assessment is what we're talking about, the tests and the quizzes. the reassessment, I think it's it's not it's not necessarily clear. It's easy to I

108I understand how people could read it differently. the way I read it and I think I think correctly is that the reassessment essentially can take many many forms not just not just retesting. So it's just a just different uses of the word I get. but I'm comfortable with the with the changes that were made and I will and I think I think it's I put a motion on the floor. I don't know if I saw a second. So, yeah, we have we have a motion in a second. So, any any additional discussion on the amendment as as presented in your packet, Mr. Boston? Yeah, you know, I've gone back and forth on this one a lot. and I appreciate I appreciate your clarification there, Mr. Gry, thank you. I just still I have major concerns

109about this paragraph at the end of page one into page two. I know that we have reassessment and that could mean multiple different things and kind of open into interpretation, but it could mean test retesting and test corrections is listed there as well. And I just have a lot of concerns over what that might do and the impact into teacher autonomy. we also talked about, you know, at the work session stuff at length about student motivation, you know, to try and get things right the first time and if you, you know, fail a test, you know, what does that mean going forward? and I I just I couldn't in good conscience move forward with this paragraph in here as it is. So I would want to make an amendment to remove this entire language. I

110believe it's page one lines 33 to 37 into page two lines 1 through five. Okay. So is that you making that as a formal amendment? Yes. Okay. Okay. The the motion is to amend by striking lines 33 starting in lines 33 on page one through through line five on page two. Is that correct? Yes. Okay. Is there a second? Second it. Okay. I've got Dr. Johnson on the board for a second. So, any discussion on the amendment? Okay, seeing none, we will vote on the amendment. is there anyone unclear about what the amendment would do? Okay. Yeah. Sorry. Mr. Chair, we'll be fine either way. for the I'll defer to the will of the board. short. Well, for the sake of making sure that I actually give a recommendation because there has the potential for

111folks to misunderstand the difference between assessment at the top and assessment at the bottom. knowing that this would not change our practice. I do recommend approval of this. Recommend approval of the of the stated amendment of the amendment. Okay. Okay. We will proceed to a vote on the amendment. The vote is seven yes, three no. The amendment is adopted. So we are now back on the main motion as amended which to be clear is in the draft you have in front of you is line one through on page one. and then it picks back up at line seven through the end of the policy. That is the that is the new policy we would be voting on as amended. Mr. Galborth. Well, I with that with that stricken I think you need to amend the

112lines three and four to end that sentence at the end of line three with to access and retain academic assessments period and delete the rest of lines three and four. So are you making an amend making a motion to amend? Yeah, I am just to clarify to make it Yes. Okay. So the motion is to amend further amend by striking in line three ending it with the word assessments and striking the remainder of that line three and four. Is that correct? That's correct. Okay. Is there a second? Okay, we have a second. Any discussion on that amendment? Mr. Golden, any feedback on that? I recommend approval. Okay, we will ready to vote on the amendment. The vote is nine yes, one no. The amendment is adopted. So the new motion as amended twice is line

113one, then line three until the word assessments and then line six through 31 and then on page two starting again in line seven through the end. That is the new amended policy that we would be voting on. Any discussion, Mr. Welch? Yeah. So, I mean, I was fine with the language as it was before the amendment. I was fine with the amendment. nothing really upset me, but I guess my challenge with it and I don't want this to come out wrong. Please take it at face value, but I'm having trouble really seeing what it substantly changes beyond what we do already. And I know you asked that question and be honest, I kind of forget what it is. So, it feels a little bit superfluous right now. So, if if there is something significant in

114here, I'm open to to hearing it and understand. I mean, on board with it. But I honestly I'm just struggling right now to sort of figure out the big why behind the policy if we're already doing it. Again, it's please take it at face value. It's not but that's where I'm struggling with it. Mr. Cash, thank you Mr. Chair. I agree with Mr. Welch 100%. We have worked on this policy for hours and hours. We have had discussions on this for hours. I have eight grandchildren that go to these schools at every grade level. If they're if they're failing or if their grades are going down, they're they're reassessed. Why? Why is this happening? Why is this happening? And I've got them from well, I've had them from K K through 12 for the last

115six, eight year, 10 years. I got them graduating. and this happens at every grade level. And now we feel like we have to create a policy. And the policy looked great. The first the first one before two amendments looked great to me. The verbiage was in there. It's not necessarily to give them a passing grade, but we want to prepare them for the future and find out what the heck's going on. And I don't know. I mean, I guess this is over my head about assessment, reassessment, and all the things that go along with it. But this staff and our teachers have been doing this for years and now all of a sudden we're eliminating all this stuff. So I'm a no vote. I'll go I'll go no all the way to the end. Thank

116you, Mr. Galorth. So Eric, I think so I know we're not we're we're done talking about re the retaching reassessment piece is out at this point. So now it I just want to clarify I just want to be able to answer your question. Is it is it regarding the access to tests and quizzes? now like you think do you think we're already doing that and so like we're just restating our actual practice because I can speak to that and Dr. Webb can too, but that's what I'm I'm just wondering what you're I mean that's the answer to hang on. No, I was just I just wanted I just wanted to clarify what the what the question was before I so I could adequately address it, but do do you want to be Eric? Do you

117want to be recognized again? Sure. Respond. I I think you just did it right there. I get it. Okay. Because So, let me Yeah. No, fair enough. That's That's Well, I guess I'll just I'll just clarify just so for I'm sorry. just procedurally we just punch you in if you don't mind. I am I'm still at the floor. Okay. All right. Go ahead. so the so the goal of this policy from an access to tests and quizzes perspective is to do something that hasn't largely been done in in recent years and that is to give students and parents access to their tests and quizzes. And so I think it's done probably differently differently in different teacher teams and schools. but but by and large I think more more tests are withheld than are than are

118returned. And I think by this policy it will by default except for the exceptions which are really important then the default is going to be that students and parents get those get those tests back, get the feedback, have them available to to study is the is the goal. So Dr. Wbert, thank you for the question. so we see this as it's it's been a it's it's been a solid researchbased practice since I owned education 27 years ago. what we've realized through the conversation surrounding this policy is that it could use a point of emphasis. So, we plan on emphasizing this best practice regardless of the passive of a board policy today because it is a best practice to review with students how they perform on an assessment, give them the opportunity to see what they

119did well on, did not do well on, and communicate ways to grow. to Mr. Cash's point, I would say that this has happened in a lot of classrooms. Has it happened consistently across the district? No, it isn't. it's a healthy point of emphasis for us and I can speak secondary and I believe Julie would echo with elementary. we plan on emphasizing this as a researchbased best practice unless there's a security reason not to release those test items which in those cases of course we wouldn't. Dr. Reeves. thank you for that Dr. Webb. I just I did want to speak to my no vote on the amendment. I felt like we had a lot of conversation about that particular wording and I was very comfortable with adding the last sentence that spoke to it not leading

120necessarily to grade changes. So, I do think because Dr. Webb I think previously indicated that the application across different schools isn't necessarily uniform. I would like to make a note that we revisit get an update maybe in your superintendence report maybe I don't know midway through the school year next year about that piece of of the policy that was removed. Thank you. That's a that's a good request. Dr. I will tell you like I like I mentioned before my recommendation we are implementing that and that's our expectation for everyone each one each school and each teacher team is at a different point on the continuum and it's a constant effort even when folks retire and new teachers come in it takes that it takes that work and to Mr. Cash's point, we have been doing

121it for years and everybody continues on that journey. so just to reemphasize, I recommended approval of that because we're going to implement it either way. and we'll make sure that we get we keep you all informed and as you know, we can we continue to talk about what true professional learning community work is with those four questions and we'll continue to do that. Okay. Any further questions or comments on the policy as amended? Does anyone need clarity on what we're ultim what we're finally voting on with the amendments? Okay. I'm going to assume we don't Mr. Golden. Any final recommendation? thank you, Mr. Chair. I'm going to say the same thing I said about the amendment. we're going to implement either way. so whatever the will of the board is, but because I do have

122a commitment to each of you to make a recommendation, I'm going to say it again. We're going to be fine either way, will of the board. but because of the work that's being done, I certainly recommend approval of this so that we can move forward. Okay, we are ready to vote on the policy as amended. The vote is eight yes, two no. Okay, the policy is adopted. Our final policy on second reading is 6.411 student wellness. Any comments from policy, Mr. Galborth? Yes, we've we're we're now on on second reading of this research of this recess policy that is that was prompted by state law. we've gone in excess of state law on on the elementary side for 45 minutes versus the required 40 minutes. don't think there are I don't think there are any

123changes there except the last change that since the last since our last policy meeting in in green on line on on page three there is u on line four time spent on electronic device shall not be considered physical activity for middle school students. I apologize that was that was a change that came out of the work session from from Miss HMA. but other otherwise this is what came out of policy and we discussed on on Thursday night. All right. Thank you for that. We have a motion in a second. Any discussion on this policy? Okay, we're ready to vote. Mr. Chair, I do recommend approval because this No problem. This green language is actually consistent with the policy you just passed related to electronic devices. All right. Thank you. All right. We're ready to vote.

124The vote is 10 yes, zero no. Okay. The policy is adopted. And with that, that comes to the end of our agenda. Thank you for the good discussion. We are journ